My head is spinning

Amsterdam Docklands I

Apartments Batavia (Cruquius site) by Architect Frits van Dongen of Architekten Cie.

The harbour basins of the Eastern Docklands in Amsterdam have been laid out some 100 years ago. In the second half of the 20th century, the functioning harbour gradually moved to the west of Amsterdam and the area became available for housing. Although much of the harbour structure was preserved, some old buildings got assigned new functions and some new buildings were created. Towards the end of the century the city asked urban designers with an open view for new, unusual possibilities, to plan a new residential district.

Entrepotbrug (Cruquius site)

In 1987, the Cruquius site was the first part of the Docklands to be redeveloped. The city started to develop the district where in the past, you found the cattle market, the slaughterhouse and the municipal customs depot. Other areas developed include the KNSM Island, Java island, Borneo-Sporenbrug, Rietlanden, Ijburg,and Oostelijke Handelskade and Veemkade.

I first visited Ijburg last June. Blog postings then included:

canal living and canal housing

and the Nesciobrug.

More photos portraying the architecture of this area to follow..

To read more about the history and architecture of the Amsterdam Docklands, click here for a very comprehensive and interesting website.

Ready for a dip?

Algae covered canals of Rotterdam so dense that anything floats

Vulnerable

Beautiful Lie by Yoav

a Happyface goes 2 ways

Bridges of Amsterdam III - Living Bridges

Entrepotbrug (Entrepot Bridge)

A meandering residential building designed by Atelier PRO and constructed as social housing to accommodate 600 dwellings.

Location and a view of the site from above. Photo by Erwyn van der Meer

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Bridges of Amsterdam II

Pythonbrug or Voetbrug

Constructed in steel ands designed to represent a twisting snake, it is easy to see how this bridge got its' name: the Pythonbrug. The bridge was built in 2001, is located in Oostelijk Havengebied, and connects Sporenburg peninsula with Borneo Island.

Located nearby is another similar red bridge, but built for bikes, it is less steep. Both bridges were designed by the Rotterdam architecture bureau West 8.

Bridges of Amsterdam I

Enneüs Heermabrug

Completed in 2001 and designed by Nicholas Grimshaw. The bridge is made of steel, with a length of 230 meters, a width of 38 meters, and a height of 26 meters. The suspended deck of the bridge serves to carry a traffic road and a light rail (tram) line. It is the main connection between IJburg and the A10 into the main city centre of Amsterdam.

The classic gables of Amsterdam’s canal houses inspired the arches and lateral gables and the wavy patterns refer to water. The segmented appearance is based on the skeleton of a crab. The shallowness of the water at the bridge site made it impossible to use floating cranes to lift the pre-assembled arches of the bridge into position during construction. The problem was solved by using pontoons and crawler cranes. [Source]

If I could choose...

.... a spot to live in Amsterdam...

Shutterview

And in pink....

These shutters are typical of Dutch architecture. Also, to be seen (shown in the photo below) protruding out from the top of many buildings, especially in Amsterdam, are bars with hooks, specifically used for attaching ropes and hoisting furniture to upper levels through windows.

Johanne

Lasse

I am famous

Schmap is a leading publisher of digital travel guides for 200 destinations throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. My photo of the Canadian Broadcasting Centre (below) was found on my flickr photo website and selected to be in the fifth edition of the Schmap Toronto Guide.

To visit the Schmap site, click here. The photo is small in size and there is no financial reward, but no matter, as more importantly, it is nice to be discovered and have a photo that is credited correctly.

Quick eats

Croquetten (deep fried meat pastries) In Amsterdam....

Gummibears In Berlin...

Primary Colours

Pride Finale

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.